Self-learning is one option for those keen on the Jira Gantt chart project tutorial topic. Studying documentation or a training course with our trainer make other options. Below we go through all of them.

As it is not included in Jira by default, a Gantt chart is one of the most searched for Jira apps and a must-have for a project manager. Neatly designed Gantt’s are better than others as Gantt charts are all about visual representation of data. You could learn to use a Gantt chart during a one-hour tutorial, but things begin to get slightly complicated when integrating a Gantt module and Jira. So, let’s divide this “Jira Gantt tutorial” article into a couple of sections: 1-hour tutorial and learn Gantt in a day and a week.

What is a Gantt chart? Pictures are easier to internalize than text. As projects in America were becoming larger and more complicated during the early 20th century, Henry Gantt came up with a unique bar chart format to help project managers. The Gantt chart was later employed on infrastructure projects such as the Hoover Dam and the Interstate Highway System. And it remains popular today, but with the notable addition of dependencies, or links, between tasks.

To give you a concept what a Gantt chart is, back in the day, they used to draw them on paper. The digital versions of today are easier to manipulate.

1-hour Jira Gantt chart tutorial

For whom: those who use Jira and are making a decision on which Gantt app to choose or they’ve downloaded a free trial version of our BigGantt or BigPicture.

A more in-depth, 30-minute tutorial of Gantt chart. Some crucial Gantt-related terms are discussed in the video, i.e.:

links between tasks

baselines – footprints marking where tasks were originally positioned on a timeline

critical path – tasks that affect a program’s end date are highlighted red

cadences and sprints – i.e. 1-week, 2-week, 1-month or so time frames visible on Gantt chart. They are more modern than the original 100-year-old concept of Henry Gantt. Candences and sprints have to do with the agile management

perspectives – in the rest of computer world known as configurable views

data synchronization: Gantt to Jira and vice versa

Gantt ≠ Waterfall

or “Why to study Gantt charts anyway?”

In the IT world many still believe that Gantt charts are inherently not up-to-date. Especially with agile teams now in the game. That notion dates back to the MS Project era, or the early 2000s. Back then, project managers working on Gantt charts were constantly out of sync with executive teams that used third-party task tools for everyday planning.

Fortunately those days are now over. With BigPicture Gantt module you’re continuously in sync with Jira. And the Gantt chart here serves a slightly different purpose, namely to visualise tasks.

2-hour Jira Gantt tutorial

Similar to the 1-hour variant, but with the the functionalities divided into separate 20+ videos, bound together in a playlist.

Can I really learn Gantt in one hour?

You could grasp the idea after the one-hour tutorial. But you need long-term project management experience to become proficient. This is why:

Gantt charts are becoming more and more integrated with other project management standard features, e.g. resources, risks, roadmap and teams.

Learn the Gantt chart in a day and a week

A one-hour BigGantt demo by our Support Team via Webex offering an opportunity for Q&A. For teams up to 100 licenses – we have prescheduled demos here – sign-up. For larger clients, i.e. over 100 licenses, contact support@softwareplant.com to schedule you individualized demo.